Liverpool told Diego Costa staying at Atletico

Liverpool's hopes of signing Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa have suffered a significant blow, with the 24-year-old insisting he will not be leaving Spain if the club ask him to stay.

Reports last week suggested Liverpool had launched a £21.8 million for the Brazil international in what would be one of Brendan Rodgers' final signings of the transfer window.

But Costa, who recently returned to Madrid following Atletico's pre-season tour of South America, insists he is happy at the Vicente Calderon and has not heard of any plans from Liverpool to lure him away.

"I'm well here, I'm happy here," he is quoted as saying by AS. "As I've been in Argentina and Uruguay I've not heard anything about this. I'm happy here, if the club want me to be here, I'm going to be here. I think that the coach [Diego Simeone] counts on all of us, not just me. He knows how important it is to maintain the squad, the fans know it as well."

Now Atletico's sporting director Jose Luis Caminero has reiterated the club's stance. "Diego Costa is a very important player for Atletico; we value him very highly and we are convinced that this year he is going to score a lot of goals with Atletico. He is an idol for the fans."